Splice for structural beams and the like



April 8, 1958 G. STRAUSS ETAL SPLICE FOR STRUCTURAL 'BEAMS AND THE LIKE Filed March 26, 1953 FIG'.3v

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United States Patent SPLICE FOR STRUCTURAL BEAMS AND THE LIKE Gus Strauss and Donald H. Revell, Louisville, Ky., as-

signors to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Application March 26, 1953, Serial No. 344,742

2 Claims. (Cl. 189-36) This invention relates to the joining of a plurality of metallic T sections in such manner as to permit the load on one section to be transferred to the endwise positioned section, and at the same time maintaining the sections in alignment, and providing for longitudinal expansion and contraction due to temperature changes. The invention also enables suspension of the structural members via the splice jointly.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing abutting end portions to two T sections joined by the splice of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a T section having my splice applied thereto, the T section being the same as that shown in Fig. 1 except for the corrugated form of its base, adapting the same for acoustical use,

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of a T structural shape adapted for use in the invention,

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the splice member shown in Fig. 6,

Fig. 5 is a view of the structure of Fig. 4 in end elevation,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of Fig. 1 slightly modified as to the hanger wire arrangement and the specific formation of the abutting ends of two structural members indicated at 1x, 1x.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawing I show therein, partly broken away, a structural shape which may have the same cross-section as that shown in Fig. l, but which may have any suitable variation therefrom. Each end of the said structural member 1 is provided with a horizontal slot at 2, and above the slot is a cutout area at 3 for a purpose later to be described. At the longitudinal center of member 1 an aperture 4 is provided.

Figs. 1 and 7, showing opposite faces of end areas of two of the units 1, when said units are brought together, it will be seen that the H-shaped splice member of Figs. 4 and 5 has been applied. This merely requires sliding the splice member into the end slot of one structural member 1, and then sliding the end of the second structural member into position on the splice. In the form of the splice shown it is generally H-shaped, with a major wall 6, a parallel minor wall 7, and a connecting and spacing web 8.

In the form of the splice shown in Fig. 1 the latter centrally thereof is formed with an aperture 9 for receiving a hanging wire by which the two structural members may be supported at their ends by the splice and a wire passing through aperture 9 and tied as for example in the manner shown in Fig. 7. This wire will lead to an overhead support and the structural member thus may be suspended. It will be noted that the cut away end portions of the structural member, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, provide a clearance for aperture 9 when two of the structural members are brought into end abutment. In the form shown in Fig. 7 the ends of the structural members 1x are not provided with the cut away portions 3. However one (or both) of the structural members are formed with opening Ixx which will lie in register with an opening such as 9, Fig. 1, in the splice.

In the form of structural member shown in Fig. 2 the lower face thereof is ribbed or corrugated so as to particularly adapt the member for an acoustical use.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made in the form and arrangement of the elements constituted in the embodiment shown in the drawing without departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A spliced structural beam joint comprising a pair of beams in end abutment, each having at least one vertical flange disposed in the same plane as the corresponding flange in the other member, one said coplanar abutting end'of each of said flanges being formed at its abutting end with a longitudinally directed slotted opening, and in combination therewith a splice consisting of a rigid member of generally H-shaped cross section having two spaced normally vertical parallel walls and a connecting web maintaining the spacing of the Walls, said web being inserted in both said slots, with said walls extending at opposite sides of the web and embracing opposite sides of said coplanar vertical flanges and opposite sides of said slot, one said parallel wall being of greater depth than the opposite wall.

2. A spliced structural beam joint as set forth in claim 1, wherein said one parallel wall of greater depth defines an opening for receiving a supporting element extending transversely relative to said longitudinally directed slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,286,976 Roberts June 16, 1942 2,708,828 Pruyn May 24, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 640,811 Great Britain July 26, 1950 

